Nappy Roots, Atlantic Records Named in Federal Suit Over Copyright Ownership of Hit Song "Po' Folks".Business/Entertainment Editors ST.LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2003 Lawyers for St. Louis musician Willie Woods filed suit in U.S. District Court here today against representatives of the popular hip-hop group Nappy Roots Nappy Roots is an American alternative Southern rap sextet that originated in Kentucky in 1995 and is best known for its hit 2002 single "Awnaw". The group consists of Oakland, California native R. and its label Atlantic Records  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. over the copyright ownership of the group's hit single "Po' Folks." The suit says that Woods, a professional music producer as well as a musician, composed and performed the music for the song, which has been nominated for a Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the record industry. The current President of the Academy is Neil Portnow. and appears on the group's best- selling "Watermelon watermelon, plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Africa and introduced to America by Africans transported as slaves. Watermelons are now extensively cultivated in the United States and are popular also in S Russia. , Chicken & Gritz" album. However, the suit says, Woods has received no credit as co-writer or co-producer and holds no portion of the song's copyright. Woods, 34, is seeking part ownership of the copyright as well as monetary compensation related to the sale of the single, the album, and any potential future releases of the song. The album already has "gone platinum" - sold more than a million copies. "Mr. Woods holds no ill will toward the band or its label," said Michael Kahn Michael Kahn is the name of:
The suit states that in November 2000, Woods was first asked by the defendants to compose the music for a song on which they were working. As an inducement, the defendants promised him he would receive full credit and fair compensation for his creation. Trusting the defendants, Woods composed and performed guitar and bass guitar music for the song called "Po' Folks," which went on to become one of the most popular songs of 2002. The song has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The awards are to be given next month. While Nappy Roots and the defendants have received great acclaim and financial success from the "Po' Folks" song, the suit notes, Woods has received no songwriter, producer, or performer credit and no compensation. The music of the song contains vocal lyrics, performed by Nappy Roots, as well as five parts of guitar, bass, and drums. Woods composed and performed four of the five parts of the song's music. Like hip-hop star Nelly, Woods grew up in University City, MO. He has performed on songs for Nelly and the St. Lunatics The St. Lunatics are a rap crew from St. Louis, Missouri formed by rapper Nelly and his hometown friends Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, and Slo'Down. The group was formed in 1993 and came out with their hit, "Gimmie What U Got", in 1996. After the St. as well as songs for other international recording artists. Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin is a commercial-based law firm with more than 300 attorneys, has offices in Kansas City Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.; Overland Park Overland Park, city (1990 pop. 111,790), Johnson co., NE Kans., a residential suburb of Kansas City; inc. 1960. There is printing and publishing, and the manufacture of apparel, aircraft parts, cement, prepared foods, salt, chemicals, marine accessories, and signs. , Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Edwardsville, Ill.; Washington, D.C.; and London, England, and serves regional, national and international clients. SOURCE: Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin |
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